Creating a grade item

Grade items represent the individual assignments, quizzes, performance measurements, etc., that you want to grade users on. Each grade item has its own entry in the grade book, which you assign a grade to for each user. You can associate grade items with course objects such as quizzes or discussion forums, or they can exist independently. Grade items can be graded numerically, based on a grade scheme, or with a simple text message, depending on the grade item type chosen.

  1. Attaching a grade item to a course object
  2. Types of grade items
  3. Create a Numeric grade item
  4. Create a Selectbox grade item
  5. Create a Pass/Fail grade item
  6. Create a Formula grade item
  7. Create a Calculated grade item
  8. Create a Text grade item

Attaching a grade item to a course object

You can attach a grade item to individual course objects when editing their properties in the following tools:

Note  Completing a quiz included in a SCORM package automatically generates a grade item in the grades list, populated with the quiz results. To manually create a grade item for a SCORM package, see Editing a SCORM package.

Types of grade items

Grade Item Description

Numeric

Grade users by assigning a value out of a specified total number of points.

E.g., 8/10

Selectbox

Grade users by assigning a grade scheme level that is equivalent to a percentage grade.

E.g., 90%-100% ="Excellent"

Note  Selectbox grade items cannot be created until you create at least one grade scheme for the course.

Pass/Fail

Grade users using a simple pass/fail grade scheme.

E.g., "Pass" or "Fail"

Formula

Automatically grade users using a custom formula based on achievement on other grade items.

E.g., Give users who received at least 50% on all of their Weekly Participation grades a Perfect Attendance bonus.

IF{ MIN{ [ITEM1.Percent], [ITEM2.Percent] } < 50, 0, 100 }

Notes
  • Formula grade items cannot belong to a category.
  • You must create all of the grade items you want to include in the formula grade item before you create the formula item.
  • Formula grade items cannot contribute to the calculated final grade unless you are using the Formula grading system.

Calculated

Display users’ cumulative achievement across multiple grade items.

E.g., Midterm Grade

Item1 + Item2 + Item3 / Total points * 100 = 73%

Notes
  • Calculated grade items cannot belong to a category.
  • Calculated grade items cannot contribute to the calculated final grade.

Text

Provide comments that are not counted towards users’ final grades.

E.g., "Consent form received" or "Course evaluation completed"

Notes

  • Text grade items cannot belong to a category.
  • Text grade items do not contribute to the calculated final grade.

Back to top

Create a Numeric grade item

  1. On the Manage Grades page, click Item from the New button.
  2. Click Numeric.
  3. Enter a Name for the grade item.
  4. You can enter a Short Name to display in the grade book.
  5. If you want the grade item associated with a category, select a category from the Category drop-down list or click New Category.
  6. Enter a Description of the grade item. If you want to make the description available to users, select Allow users to view grade item description.
  7. Enter the value you want the item graded out of in the Max. Points field.
  8. If you are using the weighted system, enter the Weight you want the grade item to contribute to the category. If the item does not belong to a category, the Weight you enter contributes to the final grade.
  9. If you want users’ grades to exceed the total value of the item, select the Can Exceed check box.
  10. Select the Bonus check box if you want the item counted as a bonus item.

    Note  Bonus items are not counted towards the maximum points for a category or final grade. If available, you must select the Can Exceed check box, and the Bonus check box to allow users' grades to exceed the maximum points specified.

  11. If you are using the points system, you can also choose the Exclude from Final Grade Calculation option. If you are using the weighted system you can accomplish the same results by setting the weight to 0%.
  12. You can select a Grade Scheme to associate with the item.
  13. You can can click Add Rubric to add a rubric, or click the Create Rubric in New Window link to create a new rubric.
  14. Select Display Options.
  15. Click Save and Close.

Back to top

Create a Selectbox grade item

  1. On the Manage Grades page, click Item from the New button.
  2. Click Selectbox.
  3. Enter a Name for the grade item.
  4. You can enter a Short Name to display in the grade book.
  5. If you want the grade item associated with a category, select a category from the Category drop-down list or click New Category.
  6. Enter a Description of the grade item. If you want to make the description available to users, select Allow users to view grade item description.
  7. Enter the value you want the item to contribute towards the final grade in the Weight field for the weighted system or the Max. Points field for the points or formula system.
  8. Select the Bonus check box if you want the item counted as a bonus item.

    Note  Bonus items are not counted towards the maximum points for a category or final grade. If available, you must select the Can Exceed check box, and the Bonus check box to allow users' grades to exceed the maximum points specified.

  9. If you are using the points system, you may also choose the Exclude from Final Grade Calculation option, if applicable. If you are using the weighted system you can accomplish the same results by setting the weight to 0%.
  10. Select a Grade Scheme to associate with the item.
  11. You can click Add Rubric to add a rubric, or click the Create Rubric in New Window link to create a new rubric.
  12. Select Display Options.
  13. Click Save and Close.

Back to top

Create a Pass/Fail grade item

  1. On the Manage Grades page, click Item from the New button.
  2. Click Pass/Fail.
  3. Enter a Name for the grade item.
  4. You can enter a Short Name to display in the grade book.
  5. If you want the grade item associated with a category, select a category from the Category drop-down list or click New Category.
  6. Enter a Description of the grade item. If you want to make the description available to users, select Allow users to view grade item description.
  7. Enter the value you want the item to contribute towards the final grade in the Weight field for the weighted system or the Max. Points field for the points or formula system.
  8. Select the Bonus check box if you want the item counted as a bonus item.

    Note  Bonus items are not counted towards the maximum points for a category or final grade. If available, you must select the Can Exceed check box, and the Bonus check box to allow users' grades to exceed the maximum points specified.

  9. If you are using the points system, you may also choose the Exclude from Final Grade Calculation option, if applicable. If you are using the weighted system you can accomplish the same results by setting the weight to 0%.
  10. Select a Grade Scheme to associate with the item.
  11. You can click Add Rubric to add a rubric, or click the Create Rubric in New Window link to create a new rubric.
  12. Select Display Options.
  13. Click Save and Close.

Back to top

Create a Formula grade item

  1. On the Manage Grades page, click Item from the New button.
  2. Select Formula.
  3. Enter a Name for the grade item.
  4. You can enter a Short Name to display in the grade book.
  5. Enter a Description of the grade item. If you want to make the description available to users, select Allow users to view grade item description.
  6. Enter the value you want the item graded out of in the Max. Points field.
  7. Click Edit Using the Formula Editor to define a calculation formula. See Creating a formula in the grades formula editor for more information.
  8. If you want users to be able to receive a grade higher than the Max. Points specified, select Can Exceed.
  9. Select a Grade Scheme to associate with the item.
  10. You can click Add Rubric to add a rubric, or click the Create Rubric in New Window link to create a new rubric.
  11. Select Display Options.
  12. Click Save and Close.

Back to top

Create a Calculated grade item

  1. On the Manage Grades page, click Item from the New button.
  2. Select Calculated.
  3. Enter a Name for the grade item.
  4. You can enter a Short Name to display in the grade book.
  5. Enter a Description of the grade item. If you want to make the description available to users, select Allow users to view grade item description.
  6. If you want users’ grades to be able to exceed the total value of the item, select Can Exceed.
  7. Select a Grade Scheme to associate with the item.
  8. In the Calculation section, select the check boxes beside the items you want to include in the calculation. Clicking a category selects all grade items in the category. Clicking the check box at the top or bottom of the list selects all items.
  9. Select a Milestone Grade Calculation or Final Grade Calculation method (these options are not available in a Points grading system).
  10. You can click Add Rubric to add a rubric, or click the Create Rubric in New Window link to create a new rubric.
  11. Select Display Options.
  12. Click Save and Close.

Back to top

Create a Text grade item

  1. On the Manage Grades page, click Item from the New button.
  2. Select Text.
  3. Enter a Name for the grade item.
  4. You can enter a Short Name to display in the grade book.
  5. Enter a Description of the grade item. If you want to make the description available to users, select Allow users to view grade item description.
  6. You can click Add Rubric to add a rubric, or click the Create Rubric in New Window link to create a new rubric.
  7. Select Display Options.
  8. Click Save and Close.

Back to top

See also

 

Desire2Learn Help | About Learning Environment